Sunny Days Rib Stitch Blanket

This knit DIY blanket pattern features rib stitch. Ribbing is a special type of pattern in which vertical stripes of stockinette stitch alternate with vertical stripes of reverse stockinette stitch. In order to achieve a more textured look, these two types of stripes may be separated by other stripes in which knit and purl stitches alternate in a vertical fashion. When you want to make a ribbed pattern, you must change from knit stitches to purl stitches within a row as opposed to alternating knit rows with purl rows (as is customary when making horizontal stripes).

Ribbing has a unique lateral look and tends to form small pleats. These pleats are formed when the purl stitches recede and the knit stitches come forward. As a result, the ribbing technique is often used for cuffs, the hems of a sweater, and most frequently, any type of form-fitting edge. The elasticity of the ribbing depends on the number of knit/purl transitions in the particular pattern.

Ribs are highly versatile and can be decorated with nearly any motif used for a plain knitted fabric. Some popular motifs used with rib stitches include bobbles, lace, cables, and a variety of colors.

Since ribbed edges are desgined to "hug" the body, you generally work them on needles one or two sizes smaller than the ones used for the body of the project. In terms of column width, the narrower the column of stitches, the more elastic the ribbing will be.